Gang member suing Lorain police

ELYRIA -- Avery Taylor, who was arrested by Lorain police in February and was recently sentenced to prison, wants the Lorain Police Department to return $700 and other items it seized from him.

Taylor, 22, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in a criminal gang, receiving stolen property and felonious assault. He and co-defendant Bohannon Miller were sentenced by Lorain County Common Pleas Court Judge James Miraldi. They were arrested as part of a gang sweep in February that netted more than 17 suspects.

Taylor is suing the police department, as his own attorney, and claims Lorain police seized $700 cash, a cell phone, clothing and several other items when they were searching for drugs. No drugs were found, Taylor wrote, and a murder charge, which he was originally arrested on, was dismissed.